11 days away and DH just now says doesn't like the driving plan

[langin]

11 days to go!

I have been planning this trip forever , we are driving from NB (long!!!!) , I have worked and re-worked our driving route. Now with 11 days to go, the DH, the non-planner, doesn't like my route. He wants to stop EVERWHERES and I just want to go. I know he has some points especially about the kids being tired and cranky ( and hot, our AC just konked out and we can't afford to fix it now, $1000, see ongoing thread in Transportation), but are going to make the best of it and survive the long trip and we will get to WDW!!!!!!

If we have to stop 2X on the way, where would you stop? I am trying to avoid the big cities during rush hour (which is all day?!?!) If we stop for the night, where can we stop where there will be something to do, we want to visit even if for only a few hours.

Help fast!

 

[Apothecary]

This is one trip report I can't wait to read...you're already having so much fun!! LOL!!

I'll check with mom and dad..they've got some great spots, and found a couple of fabulous restaurants...



Wait...this isn't me! Apothecary is my DH...Hi honey!!


mbb!!!

 

[Mortlives]

Allow me to extend my sympathies on your last minute stress. Unfortunately, I can't help you, not being from NB, but I'm thinking you might want to give a bit more info for the sake of those who might be able to. What specific route are you taking? What time of day are you leaving? Which day of the week? What time (and after how many days) do you want to arrive at WDW? Are you early risers or late?

Best of luck,
Morticia.

 

[langin]

So far we might be stopping in Virginia Beach (DH really wants to stop there)
for the night then maybe onto Jacksonville Fl (where my DH worked a few yrs ago) then onto WDW in am with a pit stop in Daytona for lunch!

 

[Mortlives]

Avoid the Holiday Inn near the airport in Jacksonville! The water is completely undrinkable, even if you're just trying to drink it in coffee. Also, we had booked it through the Holiday Inn Express site, and so thought it was an HIE. But, no free breakfast, motel style outdoor room, and just not, you know, the kind of nice you expect from Holiday Inn.

Virginia Beach... I haven't been there in over 20 years, but I remember it like it was yesterday.. <flashback>Family vacation, dad driving. No reservations, but wanted a hotel on the beach. Looking at all the signs for the familiar chains with prices of over $100 a night (in the 80's!), and others with the familiar No Vacancy signs. Finally found a place called The Ivanho(l)e. $19.99 a night. The first room's bathtub was full of sand, so they moved us. The second room was a hoot. The beds took up the entire room. The connecting door was blocked by one of the beds, the dresser by the other. Dad's never lived that one down. </flashback>

 

[agnes!]

My sympathies on your recent car troubles .

What is your route coming down from home to WDW?
If you are taking I-95 I think it is a hour/maybe more *from* the Interstate *to* the Virginia Beach area. With no AC, you might want to re-think spending that much extra traveling time in the car... If you're going to Daytona Beach, maybe you could snag a room on the beach and stay there one night...that will be right on your way with hardly any extra driving/"trapped-in-a-car-with-my-family-who's-driving-me-crazy-gee-it-sure-is-good-that-I-LOVE-THEM " time.

I've been following your other AC thread and can't remember if you posted your driving/stopping request over on the Transportation Forum. If you haven't, think about posting for driving/stopping hints there. Also, take a look at any recent "I-95" threads if you're thinking about coming through the DC area on I-95. The road construction situation around DC is notoriously bad this summer.
(We drove from the DC area to WDW once, it's not too bad - only about 14 hours, so I can't help you as much as others who do the drive every year they go.)

Good luck with whatever you decide.
Hey, how bad could it be?...You're goin' to DISNEYWORLD !

agnes!

 

[bavaria]

I agree about reconsidering Virginia Beach if you are driving I-95, not only is it a detour, traffic can be really BAD.

You might want to consider around the Richmond area - how about by the airport, and taking a short 30 minute drive to Williamsburg to look around? (it doesn't compare to King's Landing!)

I drive around VA/DC/MD quite a bit when travelling, and the I-95 can bring me to tears sometimes!!!

 

[pooksma]

I can totally relate to this unexpected expense and totally get why you'll forgo getting it fixed right now! A week before we were to leave our pump went on our well. $1500 and much cursing later ('cause you can live without AC but honey I gotta have water!) we were off to WDW!!!! I quickly forgot the water pump thing and had an awesome time!
So will you! Here's some pixie dust to make your travel time survivable

And I agree with MaryBeth- I CANT WAIT to read your reports!

 

[Janice B]

I agree sorry about your luck about the air conditioning, however I to would reconsider getting it fixed. We just returned today from driving from Waterloo, Ontario to Orlando Florida. It took us 27hrs, we drove through the night with stops for lunch, supper 2hr rest stop and then breakfast. Im not sure which way you are coming, however we took the 1-75 the whole way down. It was so hot that our air conditioning was on the whole time. We have a thermometer in our van and the temperature was anywhere from 28 -42 C for the outside temperature. Have a great vacation.

 

[OnMedic]

Janice B

Hey neighbour! I am in Kitchener too!

Is taking the east coast route a bit quicker then down the middle, or is I-75 more direct?

Cheers,

 

[Janice B]

Hi Steven.

We have only heard about the east coast way. It is supposed to be only an hour quicker. However we also heard that there is not many stops along the way. We have only gone on the I-75 and they have a truck/rest stop about every 60miles or so. If you pick up a copy of the I-75 book it also shows you where the gas and restaurant stops are along the way. Usually they are at almost every exit and it shows you a wide variety of different places to eat. The I-75 is more direct.

 

[OnMedic]

Janice,

That is great feedback should we ever choose to drive again. We did it once BEFORE we had kids and it was torcherous then... maybe when the kids are a bit older we can do it as a learning adventure, that that won't be for another 10 years.

 

[langin]

7 days to go!!!!!

Now for some odd reason, panic has set in, what if this happens, what if that happens? Is this normal?
My Dh says I'm neurotic, I tend to agree with him lately!

 

[SplashMom]

Lots of pixie dust for a great vacation! I'm sure everything will work out fine as long as you remember that you are on vacation and going to Disney World! I haven't driven, so I can't give advice on that but I can assure you that the panic sets in for me about a week before as well. I constantly go through things in my head and try not to panic about what could go wrong. Two years ago my husband broke his leg while at Typhoon Lagoon and believe me, we never even considered such a thing happening! Even with that glitch, our vacation was great. We rented an ECV and made the best of everything. Now I tell myself that nothing worse than that will likely happen! Relax and try not to stress!!

 

[rbork]

langin- greetings from Maryland. How about a stop around Baltimore or Annapolis. Lot's to do if you avoid the rush hour. From Baltimore to S.Carolina is 8hours+/- Then maybe a stay around Charleston SC.
P.S. Don't go thru Washington between 5:30am-9:30 am. or 3:30-7pm. Yes- it can take us 2 hrs for get home thru rush hours on Fridays!
How about Gas $$$. It's hitting 2.50/gal here this week. Can't imagine how much you set aside for gas. Is it comparable to flying?
Sorry about the a/c. Bring a cooler w/ lots of cold drinks!
Good Luck and do what's right for you.

Takes 15 hours from Maryland to WDWw/ limited stops.

 

[Debbie]

Is this normal?

Yep, it is. Not to worry. Your vacation is going to be magical, I just feel it in the air!

maybe when the kids are a bit older we can do it as a learning adventure, that that won't be for another 10 years.

Steve, we took our first drive with the kids when the oldest three were 3, 4 and 5. BEFORE the trip, I referred to it as the trip from he!! It turned out to be fantastic. Get Dave Hunter's Along I-75 book and check out all the side trips. We've taken our time (2 to 3 days) on the way down and seen so many really neat (and free/cheap) things over the years. Some of these are:

• the first KFC restaurant
• the museum of Appalachia(kids loved that and we spent HOURS there!)
• the Berea antique and boutique stores
• the "world's finest" ice cream dairy
• falls where you'd find a "moonbow"
• Cabbage Patch doll hospital (twice)
• Oak Ridge
• Coke Museum in Atlanta
• Underground Atlanta
• and on and on and on. . . .

Honest, the trip down has often been the beginning of the best times! (And we did it without a DVD, too!) Awwww. Maybe next year we need to take our youngest two again.

 

[Janice B]

We (2 adults, 2 teenagers) returned on Saturday from driving from Waterloo, Ontario to Orlando Florida. The total Cost for us for gas was $235us their and back and $55 cdn.(mini van). To fly, it would have probably cost us about $2000cdn.

 

[mbb]

(and no offense intended, langin

I'd love to take a video camera and just follow you guys to WDW, complete with the hidden mics and camera in your van "Travels with the Langins"

You are just going to have a blast!!

'Course, I'm following you in my AC van!! LOL

That's gotta be the next reality tv show idea, following families on their road trips...hmmm...

 

[RedRuby]

We (2 adults, 2 teenagers) returned on Saturday from driving from Waterloo, Ontario to Orlando Florida. The total Cost for us for gas was $235us their and back and $55 cdn.(mini van). To fly, it would have probably cost us about $2000cdn.

Heck, we're *renting* a full size car for nearly two and a half weeks, ($600Cdn), driving back via DC (so adding mileage) and staying in hotels for 4 nights on the road (2 down, 2 back) and it's still the same price or cheaper than flying from Pearson. ($1750-$2100 for flights) Obviously the vehicle rental and hotels are a big chunk of that, so if for those who drive down/back with fewer overnight stops and already have a car, it is pretty darned cheap.

If we were just doing Disney, we'd have used the recent SW fare drop (~$100 US pp) and gone down and back for under $650Cdn ($500Cdn in airfare, $100 in bus fare between Toronto/Buffalo, and $50 for incidentals, taxis, etc).

But DH wanted to drive *and* we both wanted to see things along the way (notably some friends in Northern Virginia who are helping us with sightseeing) -- we'll leave the cheap Buffalo flights for another time.

 

[langin]

We're at the cottage and I was packing up my beach bag to take the kids to the beach and I must have twisted my back and within 15 minutes I was inso much pain. I've never had a backache (except when pregnant with twins) so I always thought "no big deal" when my DH whined about it BUT I apologize to him now, I can't turn my body to the left or right, I must move my feet so that they are facing the direction in which I desire to look in and I can't bend over,must bend my knees (which is the proper way anyways!). It is better this morning and much better than last night, but still very sore! Going next door to in-laws to have a bath, my cottage only has a small 3/4 tub, that won't help at all!
The Landry Saga continues! Must make back better for long excrutiating drive!! LOL